, 1887-07-14
A TERRIBLE FLOOD.
The Thompson Road Probably an Entire
Wreck.

| Wreck.
]. C. Campbell came in last even-
ing from the Summit House on the
Thompson road, bringing the tidings
of a terrible calamity to the camp at
that place about noon yesterday. He
was on his way to Canyon creek with
a companion, s. H. Beatty, and they
camped near the forks of the Thomp'
son and Glidden road. The stage
from Murray was bowling along, Mr..
Campbell told his partner he would
90 to the Summit house near by and
take a look at the morning newspa-
per. He had crossed the gulch
when terrible roar greeted him,
which was so Ominous that he made
his way with all speed up the noun
tain. He had scarcely reached q
point of safety when a perfect col
umn of water came crashing through
the forest, making a deafening and
awful noise to strike terror into the
bOldest heart. The stage driver, A.
McGillis, also heard the laundering
noise. and moved by a secret i'm
pulse hastily unhitched the horses,
secured the mail and drove to high
ground. A moment afterward the
sweeping flood came along, took
10 the stage and carried 1t out
of sight. Mr.. Campbell, when he
began to realize the extent OF the
volume of water coming down di-
vined the cause to be the breaking
of an immense dam on Blossom
lake. The flood increased gradually
for nearly an hour, and small islands
with giant trees still standing on
them were broken from the noun
tain side and swept along with terri
BILE fury. Nothing could withstand d
the force of such "A freshet, and so
far as the eye-witnesses could see a
channel sixty feet wide was cut
through the canyon. Campbell and
Beatty lost their entire outfit. q.
ID. Garrison was near the line OF the
flood, but he got timely warning ana
rode up the hillside out OF danger.
Mel. Garden, of the Summit house,
lost wagon, and w. u. Stagner also
lost a wagon. AT 3 O'clock, when
Mr.. Campbell left for Murray, the
water was still runningat a furious
rate. and the huge pines that line
the canyon were falling along the
newly-made channel in perfect
network.
The entire line of the Thompson
road is along the course of the flood,
ard aside from the anxiety felt for
the incoming coach and possible
travellers, there is feeling that all
of the bridges have been swept away
and the entire road destroyed. Mel.
Garden, of the Summit house, for
mer stage driver between Murray
and Thompson, gave it as his Opin-
ion than Mountain City, sometimes
called York, could not escape de-
struction. A large number Of freight
teams are supposed to have been on
the road, and these it is feared, have
all been destroyed. The entire dam
age and loss will, however, not be
known for several days, and IL Is
believed that mail communication
will be entirely interrupted for sew.
eral days. The telegraph line is said
to be annihilated for miles.
Blossom lake is on the eastern side
of Bitter Root divide, and was To-
Gated several years ago for the pur-
pose of providing water for placer
mining on Prichard creek. lmme-
diately south was smaller lake, the
waters of which We're conducted to
the larger one by small channel.
In order to hold the water right a
very large dam was constructed last
year at narrow point where the
large lake overflowed, which spread
the water service for many miles. 1t
is presumed that the immense pres
sure forced the dam out and allowed
the little ocean to escape, with the
result above given. The disaster
NAV prove q serious blow to our
camp.-Murray Sun, July 9th.